Acoustic noise reduction and power factor correction in switched reluctance motor drives

Abstract

In this paper, a four-phase 8/6-pole 4-kW SR motor drive model is presented. Based on experimental data, the model allows an accurate simulation of a drive in dynamic operation. Simulations are performed and a laboratory type set-up is built based on a TI TMS320F2812 platform to experimentally verify the theoretical results obtained for a SR motor. To reduce acoustic noise and to correct the power factor of this drive, a two-stage power converter is proposed that uses a current source rectifier (CSR) as the input stage for the asymmetrical converter of the studied SRM. Employing the space-vector modulation (SVM) method in matrix converters, the CSR switching allows the dc link's capacitors to be eliminated and the power factor of the SRM drive to be improved. As the electrical motive force (emf) is directly proportional to the rotor speed, the input voltage to the machine can be programmed to be a function of the speed with the modulation index of the CSR, leading to a reduction in the acoustic noise of the SRM drive. Simulation of the whole SRM drive system is performed using MATLAB-Simulink. The results fully comply with the required conditions such as power factor correction with an improvement in the THD.